I am asking this because after 16 months or so I feel the band does not do anything. I dont feel restricted. Can eat bread anything I want. I have no problem at all with any food. I can eat an normal amount of food I think.

Because of this I went for a fill. I had 5 CC in an 5 cc band. I told my surgeon that I had no restriction. I did not even know it was there. So he said you want an agressive fill? Sounded good to me.. so I nodded. He put 2 cc in. Did not know you could overfill a band like that. I tried to drink. Completely shut down. So he takes out 1 CC. I was on 6 cc then. I tried to drink. I gulped down 2 glasses. NP I thought. Well when I came home I could not drink anymore. I thought hmm maybe swelling? I could take like little sips and this would trickle down. I thought would maybe be enough. After 4 days I was not feeling ok and decided I really had to take some out.. I was very dizzy and ready to fall down. So off again to the dr. They could not access the port. So I had to wait hours and hours while 6 different drs tried to take some liquid out. (I live in the netherlands... Only one or 2 places where they can help you with a band. So not very experienced drs with lapbands.). At 17.00 a dr and a nurse manages to take 2 cc out. While she had the needle still in me I said should I not drink something? ( I learned everything from this Forum after the band I was told nothing and sent to an dietist who did know anything either). Oh good idea she said. I drink an cup of Water. Runs down smoothly. I am thinking I had no restriction before on 5 CC and she took an extra out. So I said hmm I think you should put an half CC back in. I thought maybe with the swelling and all its not bad to have half CC out. So she puts back the half CC in.(now I wish I had not said that but going there again sigh).

I was pretty starved and dehydrated and had visions of Mc.Donalds. No they never thought total dehydration was dangerous apperently. One nurse even said to me after hours of waiting well I would offer you some tea but you cant drink he! I already saw myself unconsiously on the ground before they would even start thinking something was wrong! I came home and we went to an take-out Chinees. I have not eaten in 16 months one normal meal. The lapband was very effectief on me because I had most of my overweight on my stomach and I believe this band was too small for me to start with (only one size in the Netherlands I think). So I pretty much starved for the whole time.(I am soo happy we are in 2008 where we can have plastic surgery and fix up yourself!)

I ordered all my favorites went home and ate so much my stomach hurt for 4 hours afterwards...(I realised how dangerous that is and could havet turned out badly - I did learn a very good lesson) I went on the scale and had gained 5 KG from morning till evening! What an shock that was! Anyhow I figured out this morning that the battery of my scale was empty and gave an wrong number. I still have to go buy a new battery to know how much I lost or gained.

So I was wondering does the lapband stop being helpful after an time. If the choice is not drinking or no restriction? Is it possible I lost so much fat on my stomach this band is now too big for me and that even with max restriction does not do much? I really wonder how I am supposed to eat now? I eat as much as I want in reason? I count calories? How much I have lived on 500-800 cal per day being very active. I still want to loose 10 more kg....

I went from total overeating (before the lapband) 150 Kg to starvation for 16 months. I am not used to eating normal. I did try with the lapband but when you can eat no meat, no bread, no Pasta, no vegetables and you hate Soups, yogurths, puddings and ice-cream what do you eat? I ate pretty much nothing. Every now and then an proteine shake. Lots and lots of chocolates... lots of crackers and cheese. And like 10 vitamine pills daily. I even de-adiccted of Cola Light. From 2 bottles a day to nothing. ( I had read that aspartane could make you stop loosing and could cause you strange pains, aches and even a tumor). I have to say everytime I eat something now with aspartane I do have bone ache. So there is something of truth in what they say of aspartane.

Any experiences how I can keep my weighloss (80 Kg! and I do not want to gain ever again. (Being smaller is fantastic! I am much happier than I ever was before) , loose 10 more kg - if even possible -and start to eat healthy?

I had hoped I would keep restriction until I was totally unfill. As my weighloss is very slow now I was not worried I would ever be underweight. I was not unhappy grazing on foods I really liked. But it seems my band does not work anymore.

I too have this problem. I h ave been banded since June of 2006 I have lost 101 pounds but recently I have been having some problems. It seems Im either to tight or not tight enough. I had to have a complete unfill for reflux reasons. My docotr wanted to give my stomach a rest so I was without any fill for 3 weeks. Now I am back at 1 cc in my band. My problem is I have gained 10 pounds and am afraid to go back for an adjustment because my doctor is leaving and Im afraid that if I start having problems of not being able to eat I will have to drive to Pittsburg which is about 3 hours away from to havea doctor take care of me.

Now I am struggling with a 1cc and being able to eat way too much and not having a lot a will power to lose that 10 pounds before it turns into 15, 20 and so on. I can't let that happen. If anyone has any advice please please I am all ears.